The UAE’s travel and tourism sector accounted for 9.1 per cent of total employment, adding around 496,730 direct and indirect jobs to the UAE’s economy, according to a report by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

It supported around 291,500 direct jobs in 2013 and is forecast to create more jobs this year.

The UAE’s travel and tourism industry is also estimated to grow around 4.5 per cent in 2014, the council said.

The industry contributed 265,835,000 jobs to the global economy, constituting 8.9 per cent of total employment.

“Tourism’s contribution to the world economy grew for the fourth consecutive year in 2013, helped especially by strong demand from international travellers,” said David Scowsill, president and CEO of WTTC.

“It is clear that the growth in travel and tourism demand from emerging markets continues with pace, as the burgeoning middle-classes, especially from Asia and Latin America, are willing and more able than ever to travel both within and beyond their borders.”

But he added that further growth would be dependent on favorable regulations.

”This will require governments to implement more open visa regimes and to adopt intelligent rather than punitive taxation policies.

“It is also critical that public and private partnerships ensure that long term infrastructure and human resource needs are planned responsibly and sustainably, to absorb the inevitable growth that we are forecasting. If the right steps are taken, travel and tourism can be a true force for good.”